Frog pan



.w. J. LEWIS April 10, 1945.

FROG PAN ori inal Fheqse t. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April l945- w. J. |-:w|s 2,373,577

FROG PAN x Original Filed Sept. 22, 1941 2 Sheets- -Sheet 2 leaving an Patented Apr. 10, 1945 ,Warren J. Lewis, Mansfie Ohio Brass Company, poration of New Jersey Original application September now Patent No. Divided and No. 411,794, 'April 13, 1943.

April 9, 1943, Serial N 1a, Ohio, assignor to The. Mansfield, Ohio,..a corv v 22, 1941, Serial 7 2,316,441, dated this application The herein "disclosure pertains to crossings, switches and related devices for overhead trolley constructions, and more particularly, to devices for insuring that a-currentcollector, whether of the wheelor shoe'type, will follow a selected or predetermined pathin approaching, crossing and intersection of trolley paths. The invention i puseful for both'trackless and trackguided vehicles, and is especially desirable in but not limited to'those cases where the; angle between the'trolleyli-nes or paths at an intersection, such as acrossing, abranch or'the like, is in the nei hborhood'of l'i degrees or less, experience having taught that within such angular rangesome means of insuring that the collectorfollows a par-- ticular'path is almost indispensable, The invention is also of especial use in two wire systems Where two'trolleys are used,and certainfeatures are of particular value where the current collectors are of the swiveled type. I

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a switching device whereby a collector wheel or'a sWiVeled shoe will be forced to take a predetermined path in crossin I an intersection, whether that intersection is a crossing as such or a switch (commonlyreferred to as a frog) pro viding optional trolley routes. e I

Another important object is to provide a device which will reduce the'wear and tear to which the current collectors are subject. in traversing the ordinary crossings, switches, etc.,' and one especially which will eliminate the wear of and injury to the carbon inserts of collectors using that contact medium. I y w Another important object is :to provide a device which will readily lend itself to application to a wide variety of installations in a simpleand economicalmanner a feature of the preferred form of the invention being readily applicable to existing installations (crossings, switches, etc.) of

present designs, as well as to new constructions, without material alteration. Inthis connection,

it.may be mentioned that the preferred form of switch element or a pair of elements fora switch unit may be construe terial, such as steel bars, with a minimum of labor and a minimum of special parts. v

"Another important object is to provide a movable from one-switching position to another through the en'- gagement therewith of a passing current collector. the -construction and arrangement being such that the collector makes Wedging engagement with a guard or aresetting lever and effects movement of the switch-with the exertion of arelated fr0m suitable stock matively small force to effect positioning of the guards in registration or indexed relation with the proper or desired path oi-transitforth'ecollector, the construction and arrangement also being such that'a very substantial force would be required from the passingcollector to move the guards out of the desired path once the collector has entered on its'passage between or past the guards.

, stillzanother object is prising a system of'movable'guards so constructed and arranged as'to be operated either through wedging vengagementtherewith by a current collector approaching an intersection, or to be'operated by electricalmeanssuch as a solenoid coil energizedby a shunt circuit either optionally or otherwise closed by a vehicle position or movement, or to be operated by other. mechanical or electrical means either. in one direction or in a plurality of directions, or to be operated by a-combination of means or mechanisms, mechanical, electricaL'or otherwise, all as circumstances and conditions may dictate. I

A further object of the invention isto provide a switchreset'mechanism operative to return the switch toan alternate collector guiding position after passage of a current collector into the selected or predetermined route or path which it is to follow, the reset mechanism chosen for illustration of this object being of a mechanical nature and being operated mechanically bypassage of the current collector-as it departs from the switch and intersection over a predetermined route path. .Yet another object of the invention is to providea trolley pan or intersection body member of such construction and arrangement that at ourtrolley pole or collector carrier will be subjected to a minimum displacement (upward and downward movements in a vertical plane in effecting the negotiation of -an.intersection,- whether the intersection be a switch or crossing.

Many other objects-as well as advantages and uses of the invention will become apparent, as. the description ,and claims are read, and upon examination of the accompanying drawings, in which:

This'application is -a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 411,794, filed September 22 l9 ll,'now Patent'2,316,441, and the'claims herein are limited to structures not specifically coveredby claims of my said co pending application.

Fig. 1 isa diagram representing a two-wire (positive and negative) ystem of overhead trollel lines or. wires, the illustration showing the use of to;providea switch comthe invention in connection with an acute angle crossing and also in connection with acute angle switches and an electrical control for optional route selection, a switch resetting device being employed in connection with each of the acute angle switches;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, with some parts in ection, of a switch and reset mechanism in accordance with the invention and which may be used at the optional route wire junctions shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the switch and the mechanical reset mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the switch and reset mechanism of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, in section, of the switch and guard assembly taken along the section line VV of Fig. 4.

Unless the context herein or the prior art otherwise definitely prescribes or requires a limited or technical interpretation, certain of the terms and expressions herein used are defined and to be understood to have the following meanings:

The terms crossing, switch and frog are to be understood as used interchangeably and in the broad sense of an intersection where one trolley wire or line crosses, departs from or merges with another, or a plurality of others, and in this sense the expression X and Y types of intersection is intended to be of generic significance. An X type of crossing or intersection may be defined as including but not limited to intersections of, say, two or more collector route paths which cross one another as shown at E in Fig. 1 and one of which may be more cries independent of another or every other route path, whether the route paths are one-way or twoway paths, or a combination thereof, whereas a Y type intersection may be defined as including but not limited to three or more intersecting trolley paths as shown at D in Fig. 1 wherein at least one of adjacent paths leads into or out from a third path disposed at an angle greater than 90 degrees to either of the adjacent paths. Furthermore, either an X or a Y type of intersection may include the other, and it is considered relatively immaterial whether the X type is a true X or becomes a K, and whether the Y has arms making equal angles with the stem thereof or one arm and the stem form a straight line or otherwise, for, as will hereinafter become apparent, the invention and its several features may be widely applied with or without modifications.

The words runner and runners are used in both the technical sense of a collector guiding or leading rig projecting below the bottom surface of a pan or body member and on which the collector runs with the rib in the collector groove, and also in the broad sense of a guiding means or a guideway such as a trough, groove, flange, shoulder or other means adapted to guide a collector into, out from, and across an intersection,

and to prevent the collector from jumping, shifting, switching or being deflected from a predetermined path of travel, rather than in the specific sense of an actual rib or projection alone.

The diagram of Fig. 1 represents a two-wire trolley system. employing a positive wire and a negative or ground wire, which have been marked with the usual signs. A straight route AB and an optional route A-C, along which current collectors of track or trackless trolley vehicles may travel in either direction, may employ one or two switch mechanisms D of the type illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and may'also employ one crossing E, which may be of the character de scribed in U. S. Patent 2,316,441. It is not, of course, necessary that the switch and crossing mechanisms of Fig. 1 be both of the character of those disclosed herein, but, for the purpose of simplicity of illustration and description, both may be presumed to be constructed in accordance with the invention.

Insulators F in the negative or positive wire, as the case may be, are disposed on each side of the crossing E to prevent short circuiting between positive and negative wires. As previously indicated, the system is adapted for use not only by two collector track or trackless trolley vehicles, but also by single collector track vehicles where the vehicle track provides the ground or nega tive side of the circuit. The current collectors utilized by the vehicles in contacting the trolley wires may be of the rigid harp and grooved wheel type, or they may be fixed or swiveled shoes, with or without carbon contact inserts. Further reference to the diagram of Fig. 1 will be made hereinafter in relating the operation of the switch devices.

The switch or intersection mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 in particular, has many constructional and other features in common with the intersection or crossing switch member shown at E in Fig. 1 or disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,316,441, but differs therefrom in certain particulars. In these views, one type of Y intersection is illustrated, the arrangement being such that a collector wheel or shoe may enter the intersection from either of three directions, and if entering from one particular direction may depart in either of two optional directions, entry of the intersection from either of said optional directions of departure requiring departure in but one direction.

The pan or body member generally designated 40 is provided with lugs 42 and eyes 43 for supporting engagement by the usual cables or stays, and is provided with external flanges l6, rib runners 44, 45 and 46, and auxiliary ribs l8. At the outside edge of each flange l6, where such flanges extend along the arms of the Y, is one of a pair of integral lugs 44 and 44 which are drilled as shown at 45 for the reception of pivot studs about which an S-shaped reset lever 56 may swing.

With the exception of special features which will be mentioned hereinafter, the switch elements I 9' and their mounting includes toggle mechanism designed to hold the switch at either of its extreme limits until it is positively moved from such limit to the point where the toggle mechanism afiects its movement and throws it to and holds it at the other limit. The toggle mechanism comprises an arm 35' having one end pivotally connected to toggle pin 35' which is slidably and rockably mounted through an aperture in bracket 31 secured to the pan 40, and surrounding the pin 36' and held under compression between the clevis head 38' of pin 36 and the adjacent face of bracket 31, is a coil spring 39'. The pivot l5 preferably has its axis disposed at or adjacent to the inner terminus of the rib run ner M and along a bisector of the angle between the rib runners 45, 46. The elements l9 are constructed with one wedging edge 24', and, while the inwardly facing guide edges 22' are straight with the edges 24' for and parallel :to one another from their junctures a substantial distance therefrom they diverge or taper outwardly from oneanother, as indicated at=4l toward the square cutends of the elements.- If, for instance, the switch issto be set to guide a collector passing into theintersection-areaon runner and out on 'mnner fi; that element 19, which is on-the inside of the turn (shown in contact with the resetlever ifi in Fig. 3) will" be adjusted so that itstapei'ed inner edge '41, orthe rounded 'juncture thereof with the relatively square end of its element, will lie *tangent inner surface of flange Hi adjacent to runner '44, so that the collector may be guided into the intersection and the path provided between the parallel guiding -edges"2 2, without obstruction,

' thee'dge 22'of the same-element being adjusted to register or align with the inside surface. of fiangeIG' Where-it extends along the runner 45. 'Whileit is relatively immaterial for-the purpose of guiding 'a collector along the path just mentionedfwhat the position of the tapered edge 41 of'the opposite element 19' may be, it is desirable that the edge"22' of such opposite element doesnot fall outwardly of the intersection if not in absolute registration or alignment with the to or in line with'the beveledfedge' 2l' oi the runner 46. In a similar marinen'the switch elements, when the switch is shiited'to its other extreme position, will provide astraight and uninterrupted path for a collector between the runners 44 and 46,the elements'lS being adjusted as may be necessary to insure this result.

The switch swivel block 3|' is electrically connected with the pan by a'jum'per 33' and carries the toggle arm 35'; 'The switch mechanism in thisiorrn of the inventionlis designed to be oper'ated in one direction by electrical means comprising "a solenoidcoil 48'mounted on a suitable carrier block 491adjustably supported on theto-p oithe pan or. body member '40 and having a fixed core or pole 5| adapted to attract an armature 52 mounted'for swinging movement on apivot 53 when'the coil is energized. "The armature 52 is preferably made adjustable with respect to the any -suita'ble devices such as the well known automobile hood latches'fi'it.

' The mechanism iofiFigs. 2;3 and-4 includes the electric switch {operating device to permit the switcnto'be thrown in one'(either) direction under the control. oftheoperator'as by turning a'trackless trolley vehicle to right or left or proceeding straight .ahead, 'or otherwise; and also includesa switch reset device which may be operated by a1passing collector to move the switch toan:alternatehorsoptional route position.

The operation ofthe switchingcmechanism of the X' type intersection (represented by E in- Fig. l) is relatively simple and fully disclosed in U. S. Patent 316,441.

While the Y type of switch mechanism of Figs. :2, 3:and 4 maybe utilized in various other systems'sa'nd arrangements and may be operated by-otherimethodsthe system of. Fig. lprovides a good example. "Since Fig. 1 represents a two,- wire' system, it is preferable to utilize two Y switches of the character described, although one might be sufficient under some circumstances. Where two switches are used, the coils 48 may be connected in series asshown or in parallel, provided there is simultaneous or substantially simultaneousoperation and the switches are arranged tomove in the same direction. The coil circuit is adaptedto be energized from the trolley circuit by engagement ofthe current collectors with contactsi59, 6| as the collectors pass along. If the major portion of vehicular trafiic is running along. the straight path A to B or viceversa and relatively little traific is to follow curving 'route A-C, the coil circuit contacts 59, -6I are so disposed that that contact which is at the path=';A--B, only .one'oi-the contacts 59 and BI core or pole of 'the'solenoid coil'for adjustment of'the air/gap. and .at its upper end is connected with a pullrod 54, which at its other end is securedon a pivot (Fig. 4) to the swivel block 3! of the switch'unitat such a distance andin such position from the center of thepivoting of the switch unit as to permit the switchunit to be swung from one extreme position to the other when .the coil is energized. Preferably the pivot 55 is located in the same relative position on one sideof .the switch, pivot asis the connection 55' of the jumper 33. to the switch block on the other side of the switch pivot, so that the rod 54 and the jumperconnection to the switch blockmay be interchanged with oneanother. If, for any reason it should be desired to have the switch moved by electric means from one extreme limit to the other in the oppositesense to the arrangement shown. in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, then the reset lever- I additional is closed at one "time'so that the circuit is not energized,the'relationship also beingsuch that asithe vehicle" is steeredinto the turn to follow path IA--C,l1h8'bWil'l collectors will be so swung as to engage :b'oth contacts simultaneously and energize.the-circuit. The contact i9 may bemovedtopositidnifl', shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where his opposite to the contact El, and the switch operation changed to the opposite of that above described, if it be preferred to have the majortrafiic follow route A-C and itinerant or occasional trafiic follow route A B.

The electric goperationlofi the Y switch is only in one direction in the embodiment shown, but could be arranged to operate the switch in both direction, if desired, by utilizing another coil and contacts or otherwise. However, where one of the branching routes such as A--C maybe infrequently'used relative to theother route, it vmay bepreferableto'employ a single coil to throw the switch toopen the infrequently used route-path when necessary'for a vehicle to passtherealong, and-to have the switch reset to the main route by mechanical means, as by the resetting lever device .56'above mentioned. When the switch is thrown to the position shown in Fig.3 by operation of the coil associated mechanism, the element 19. at the inside of the curve engages the adjacent end of the S-shaped lever 56 and swings the lever (clockwise, viewing Fig. 3) about its pivot to move its-other end into the path of. the collectortravelling toward it and over the. path for which; the switch has been set by the coil, cooperative abutments or stops (not shown) on the lever and pan being arranged to stop the lever in the position illustrated. After the collector passes the switch and enters path AC, and starts to traverse the runner 45, the adjacent one of its flanges engages an edge 6 of lever 56,

and, as such edge extends at an acute angle to the path of travel of the collector flange, the flange engages the edge with a wedging force which causes the lever to swing about its pivot (counterclockwise, viewing Fig. 3), thereby causing the end of the lever which is engaged with the element I9 to force the switch to swing about its pivot to open the main route path from, A to B and to close the route path AC behind the collector. If, perchance, the switch is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and the collector is proceeding from B to A, an engagement of a collector flange with the wedging surface 24' of an element 19' tion, permitting the collector to pass along. Again, if a collector is passing from C to A and the switch is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the collector will first engage an edge 63 to the lever 56, the edge 63 being disposed at an acute angle to the path of travel of a collector, and will cause the lever to throw the switch out of position, but as soon as the collector passes the lever 56 it will engage the inclined edge 24 of the element I9 projecting into the path and thereby will force the switch about its pivot to a position giving a clear path to the intersection area for the collector.

Various other modifications, adaptations and arrangements will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and for that reason it is desired that the invention be considered as limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A trolley frog for guiding a current collector onto either of two conductors at one end of the frog and onto a single conductor at the other end from either of said two conductors comprising, a pan member, a pair of angularly disposed runners at one end of the pan, a single runner at the other end of the pan, said runners ending short of each other adjacent the center of the pan and arranged to guide a current collector, a shiftable member mounted on the pan between the inner ends of said runners for guiding the current collector whereby the collector is guided from said single runner onto either of said pair of runners or from either of the said pair of runners onto the said single runner, the shiftable member pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the pan member at a point adjacent the inner end of the single runner, means on the opposite end of the shiftable member from its pivotal point engageable by the current collector entering the frog by way of either of the saidpair of runners whereby said shiftable member is automatically moved to its proper position for guiding the collector onto the said single runner when the last said means is engaged by the current collector traveling along either of said pair of runners, the pivoted end of the shiftable member being free of any means engageable by the current collector to change the setting of the shiftable member as the collector moves from the single runner onto,

the shiftable member and electrically operated means associated with the frog and operatively connected to the said shiftable member whereby the said member may be moved to one of its positions for selectively guiding the entering current will force the switch to swing to open posicollector onto one of the frog.

2. A trolley device for guiding a grooved current collector along a predetermined path comprising, a body member having a pair of angularly disposed runners at one end and a single runner at the other end thereof forming a part of a plurality of paths across the body member, said runners terminating short of one another and arranged to guide a current collector by its roove, a pair of movable guard members having collector guiding edges disposed in spaced and substantially parallel opposed relation to one another and forming a channel to receive and guide a current collector by its outer side faces as it moves between the spaced ends of said runners at opposite ends of the body member, means adjacent one end of said movable guards and said channel to pivotally mount the said guards and channel on said body member for swinging movements between a position wherein the channel will form a collector guiding path aligned between said single, runner and either one of the said pair of runners. means carried by each of said guard members at their unpivoted ends for wedging engagement by the exterior sides of a current collector as it moves along either runner of said pair of runners toward said single runner for effecting said swinging movement of said guard members and channel into a guiding position for the current collector and electrically operated means associated with the body member and operatively connected to the guard members whereby the guard members and channel are moved from one guiding position to that of another position when the electrically operated means is energized and the current collectors enter the frog by way of the single runner.

3. An overhead trolley frog for guiding a current collector along a predetermined path comprising, a pan having a pair of angularly related runners at one end and a single runner at the other end, the runners of said pair converging toward one another in the direction of the single runner and having their closest ends spaced from one another and from the corresponding end of the single runner, a pair of spaced guards disposed between the said pair of runners and the said single runner, the said guards forming a channel therebetween adapted to guide a current collector by its exterior surface, the said guards being pivoted at one end thereof to said pan for lateral movement, means associated with the free end of the guards and engageable by the current collector to automatically move the guards and channel into a guiding position for the collector upon its entering the frog along either runner of said pair of runners, the pivoted end of the guards being unaffected by engagement of the current collector therewith in passing from the single runner onto either of the said pair of runners, and means associated with the pan adjacent one of the said pair of runners and cooperating with the said guards and engageable by the current collector after passing through said channel whereby the position of the guards is automatically shifted to its other position.

4. A trolley frog for guiding a current collector along a predetermined path comprising an elongated pan having at least three runners extending outwardly in diverging directions from an intermediate portion toward opposite ends thereof and forming a plurality of guiding paths, said runners being in spaced relation to one another at their converging ends, guide means associated pair of runners of said collector to guide I mined path, means at one end of the guide means v with the pan at said intermediate portion of the latter and having a, slot, the sides thereof adapted for guiding engagement with the flanges of the the collector in a predeteradjacent the inner end of one of the runners for mounting the guide means upon the pan for lateral movement of the free end of the guide means between positions, each position providing a guiding path for the collector between either of two oppositely disposed withone end of the said guide means and engageable by an entering current collector along runners, means associated either of two of said'three runners to automatically shift the guide means and slot into guidin position for the collector,

the other end of the l guide means being so constructed that its position will be unchanged by engagement therewith of the current collector When it passes from the third WARREN J; LEWIS. 

